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Brent Alderman , 240.818.3053 THE EVERLASTING GOD [email protected] (John 8:48-59)

John 8:48-59 - The Jews answered him, “Are we not right The worst claim these Jews could make about Jesus was in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a to call him a Samaritan and a man possessed by demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I demons. Much of Jesus’ teaching in the last couple of honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not chapters had to do with his identity, but his hearers seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is refused to listen and believe that he was sent by God the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps and the Father in heaven initiated his mission. Instead, my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Jesus took one final chance in this paragraph to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! pronounce his deity. died, as did the , yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than If one resorts to name-calling, they’ve ceded the our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! argument. It is the absolute lowest form of response in Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus a debate. In an arena such as politics where dissent and answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my disagreement are expected and needed, take care to Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our make your arguments cogent and reasoned without God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I attacking the person or people with whom you were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like disagree. Name-calling is only meant to slam doors of you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your communication shut rather than keeping a healthy father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He dialogue open. saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen UNINHIBITED ANSWER Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, .” 59 So they picked up We can paraphrase Jesus’ answer to the Jews’ stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went allegations with “By dishonoring me, God’s very own out of the temple. Son, you are heaping dishonor upon the Father as well – and God himself will judge your accusation.” Also, UNGODLY ACCUSATION Jesus is referring to judgment that will fall on every person after their earthly life is over, as he makes clear Last time we saw that Jesus boldly called out the Jews in the next verse. But as for his rebuttal to their who were listening to his teaching as he called them mischaracterization of him (and by so doing, children of the devil. Now, they turn the accusation, dishonoring the Father), Jesus has to set that straight. without foundation, back on him and accuse him of two of the lowest things they could think of – a Samaritan and demon-possessed. AND SO CHRIST TEACHES US TO AVANGE INSULTS OFFERED TO GOD BUT TO OVERLOOK THOSE THAT The race wars were alive and well in first-century ARE DIRECTED AT OURSELVES. Palestine. were half-Jew and half-Gentile. There was no contact between Jews and Samaritans, Chysostom, Homilies on the of John which is why it was so strange for Jesus to stop at

Jacob’s well back in John chapter four to talk to the Samaritan woman.

Jesus, the Everlasting God often in the book of John, Jesus again is claiming to be UNBELIEVERS ASTOUNDED deity. And it is an authentic statement. The Jews said they knew God but didn’t. Jesus calls them liars and The next statement by Jesus blew the group away, but asserts he is not a liar, since he knows and loves the it’s a truth we must believe and take to heart. He told Father. them (again) that anyone who believes in him and obeys his teaching will not die. Obviously, when such ULTIMATE AUTHORITY great men as Abraham and the prophets have died, Jesus was claiming superiority over them. That was too When Jesus says here that “Abraham rejoiced at the much for this crowd to take. To them, this confirmed thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad”, he Jesus was possessed. But just a few chapters later, was referring to the promise God made to Abraham standing in front of the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus will about the nation that he would father. And out of that make the same assertion. nation would come the one God would anoint to bring peace between God and mankind. :25, 26 - “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he Hebrews 12:2, 3 - I will bless those who bless you and live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in curse those who curse you, and all the peoples of the me shall never die.” earth will be blessed through you.”

This is a crucial biblical concept. There is a first death The group is confused again since here is a man in his and a second death. The one who believes and is saved thirties claiming to have been around when Abraham will not face a final, second death. Their earthly death lived. So when they questioned him about it, Jesus will just usher them into a life with Christ for eternity. states the ultimate declaration of deity – “before The one who rejects God, will experience a second Abraham was, I am”. Of all his “I am” statement in the death apart from God in etenity. book of John, this one was superior.

HE MEANS THAT, FOR THE MAN WHO FULLY Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, ACCEPTS HIM, DEATH HAS LOST ITS POWER; HE and forever. HAS ENTERED INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT NOTHING CAN DISSOLVE. HE GOES, NOT BY USING THE TIMELESS “I AM” RATHER THAN “I FROM DEATH TO LIFE, BUT FROM LIFE TO LIFE; WAS”, JESUS CONVEYED NOT ONLY THE IDEA OF DEATH IS ONLY THE INTRODUCTION TO THE HIS EXISTENCE PRIOR TO ABRAHAM, BUT HIS NEARER PRESENCE OF GOD. SHEER TIMELESSNESS – THE VERY IDEA OF GOD HIMSELF. William Barclay, The Homer Kent, Light in the Darkness

UNVARNISHED AUTHENTICITY

It’s fitting for us to be in this particular text the week after celebrating Resurrection Sunday because Jesus backs up his claim to have power over death with his STUDY mandate and purpose given to him by his Father. This Legislators and Staff (During Session) Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. is what we rejoice in whenever we praise God for the life-giving message of Easter. (ZOOM)

Jesus again stresses his identity as the one sent by God who is glorified along with the Father. As he did so